The tranquil atmosphere and soothing hot waters at the Warner Springs Ranch mask an ongoing fight over the value of a membership and maintenance requirements. The dispute is threatening to spill into the courtroom. Representing two ranch owners, the law firm of Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire has filed a lawsuit that it wants to gain class action status, demanding (among other things) better marketing of shares — the suit alleges that only about 1,050 of the 2,000 available have been sold — and more attention to neglected repairs and maintenance that it estimates will cost a minimum of $3.37 million.
“We are looking to put the ranch back together,” says Karen Frostrom, an attorney with Thorsnes. “We have a lot of owners who have been owners for a long time. They would like the memberships to become worth something on the open market.”
Steve Wall, a Luce Forward partner who has represented the ranch’s board since 2004, denies the suit’s merit. It is his preference the two parties resolve their differences outside a courtroom. “It is unfortunate the lawsuit was filed,” he says. “Efforts are being made on many fronts to improve the condition of the ranch and address the concerns of many owners. That is why we are looking forward to a dialogue... We certainly disagree with the allegations in the complaint but are hopeful to open that dialogue to deal with these and other issues.”
An oasis of activities that include golf, dining, hiking, equestrian and other offerings, the ranch — warnersprings.com — has suffered financially in the past. The lawsuit says that in 1995 a new developer took over following a bankruptcy. A promised resale program to help existing members sell, and to market unsold shares, never fully materialized, the suit claims. Frostrom says that today resale conditions are so bad that owners who paid $25,000 for a full membership cannot find buyers and that occupancy at the ranch has dipped to 30 percent. She also says the existing membership list is much in need of an audit; it names the infamous Betty Broderick as an owner.
Wall says the ranch board wants to resolve the complaint soon. “Some of the owners are very motivated to see some things happen very quickly. Whether that is doable we will have to find out,” he says. “We will not sit on this. We will move forward on it right away.”
How very funny that once again someone is attempting to sue Warner's Ranch !! My husband's great-grandfather, Sylvestre de la Portilla, tried many times to clairfy his claim, thru the courts, that this land was his from the early days of Mission San Luis Rey. Without much success,but we beleive he was allowed to die there, around 1880. I would think the ole Spainard is laughing once again !
Posted by Bob and Sue Winters at 2:33pm on 2008 January 06
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